Commission removes New Chicago (old Firestone) from consideration for new jail after widespread public opposition

Shelby County commissioners voted on Sept. 8 to remove the former Firestone property in New Chicago from consideration for siting a proposed new jail or justice center. The resolution was sponsored by Commissioner Henry E. Brooks and passed 8–3 with one abstention after more than three hours of public comment and testimony from neighborhood leaders, environmental advocates, and state legislators.

Commissioner Brooks told the commission the site carries contamination risks and that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) requires land‑use restrictions; he read department guidance into the record and said cleanup data are out of date. "The former Firestone Tire and Rubber facility operated in North Memphis for decades, leaving behind contamination in the soil and groundwater," Brooks said. Community speakers argued that New Chicago has suffered historical environmental harms and is a residential neighborhood that should not bear the burden of a large justice campus. State Rep. Justin Pearson told commissioners, "We do not need a new jail in New Chicago," and several ministers, neighborhood CDC leaders and environmental groups urged the county to drop the site.

Supporters of alternative proposals spoke as well; one speaker representing a developer asked that proposals remain under consideration. Commissioners who supported the resolution cited environmental, health and equity concerns. After debate and the public hearing, the motion to adopt the resolution prevailed 8–3 with Commissioner Bradford recorded as abstaining. The adopted resolution directs stakeholders to remove New Chicago from the list of potential locations for the Walter L. Bailey Criminal Justice Center and asks county staff to continue a broader site‑selection process.